Destiny Abalone Is Legal
20 March 2008SOUTH AUSTRALIA - Destiny Abalone has defended its position against accusations of illegal employees and meagre wages. According to local reports, the company and the Maritime Union of Australia have come to blows after a consignment of juvenile abalone was unloaded by Destiny Abalone at the Kingscote jetty last week. MUA says that the company's floating abalone farm, Destiny Queen moored in SA waters, harbours illegal and underpaid workers.
However, a report on Kangaroo Island News assures that the abalone was taken from the Destiny Queen last week and transferred to Destiny Hatcheries at Smith Bay. It would be returned to the Destiny Queen after it returned from its re-fit in China, said Lesley Wahlqvist Destiny Abalone's chief executive.
Ian Nightingale, executive director of aquaculture for Department of Primary Industries and Resources South Australia(PIRSA) backs up he statement.
He said the allegations that the abalone were illegally harvested were wrong. The shellfish were grown in hatcheries on Kangaroo Island and Eyre Peninsula and complied with all regulations and the company had applied for a licence two months ago to re-fuel and unload its abalone.
TheFishSite News Desk
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